MBS First Book Of The Year 2016

Welcome to 2016!

And so we begin a new year of reading!

 Hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Pop over to see pictures of many of our fellow bloggers 

and see what each person is reading as their First book of 2016! 

I had a very hard time deciding what to read for my First Book of 2016. Soooo many choices!
I have a Ladie's Book Club title that had to be ready for 1/2.
I have 12 titles lined up on NetGalley already for 2016.
I have several challenges I wish to participate in and I have multiple audio titles to enjoy, including one that was gifted by the author and one that was received through Audiobook Jukebox.

I looked at several self-help/fiction type of books and actually purchased one at Audible.
At the beginning of the week I had narrowed my selection to the seven books below. All but The Etymoligicon I already own in one form or another and have on my TBR reading list for 2016:

1. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles Book 1) by Marissa Meyer (ebook TBR)
2. Nation by Terry Pratchett (Audible TBR)
3. The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language by Mark Forsyth
4. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge (Audio SYNC TBR)
5. Time Heist: Firstborn Saga Volume 1 by Anthony Vicino (Audible for review)
6. Buster: The Military Dog Who Saved a Thousand Lives by RAF Police Flight Sergeant Will Barrow, Isabel George (Audio for review)
7. Old Man’s War by Jack Scalzi (Audible TBR)

However, as I contemplated starting the year while buying my last titles at Audible, my mind changed.

I am planning to participate in the Vintage SciFi Not-a-Challenge event hosted by Andrea at Little Red Reviewer.

In line with that I will also use January to participate in the 

2016 Sic Fi Experience hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.

With those January events in mind, I tossed the idea of doing something in the self-help/fiction mode and went on a hunt for Vintage Sci Fi titles to start the year with some sci fi fun. :-)

Here is what I picked up at Audible on 12/31/15 (two December credits plus $2.07.):

1. To Live Forever by Jack Vance
2. X Minus One: Protective Mimicry (October 3, 1956) by Algis Budrys, Ernest Kinoy - adaptation
3. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
4. X Minus One: Cold Equations (August 25, 1955) by Tom Godwin, George Lefferts - adaptation
5. X Minus One: Target One (December 26, 1957) by Frederik Pohl, George Lefferts - adaptation

The three X Minus One titles are vintage sci fi radio broadcast offerings under 30 minutes each so I plan to listen to all three on 1/1/2016 to get a feel for those authors who will be new to me.
Where I go after that...?? Probably the review audio: Time Heist. Then either the Jack Vance title or Old Man's War.

Here is my photo offering for FIRST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016.
(I couldn't get a good pic of me, my Sansa Clip mp3, and the audio image on tablet so I combined them.)

I am looking forward to seeing the titles others have chosen for their First Book of The Year 2016.

The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge - Completed Successfully

The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge- COMPLETED

hosted by Roof Beam Reader

WRAP UP POST AT Roof Beam Reader.com

Goal: Specify and read 12 books that must have been on your bookshelf or “To Be Read” list for AT LEAST one full year. (All published prior to 1/1/2014.)
I made a few adjustments but finalized my list by 1/10/15.
(The links go to my review of the book as I post them.)

1. Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Mahaney Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw September 4,2009
2. Homespun Bride Jillian Hart May 4,2009
3. Kiss of Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel (The Midnight Breed.. Lara Adrian May 4,2009
4. Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour by Lynne Olson Audible Nov 2011
5. Awaken His Eyes: The Awakened Book One Jason Tesar May 2011
6. The New World (FREE short story) (Chaos Walking) Patrick Ness Nov 2010
7. On the Run (The Elijah Project) Bill Myers, James Riordan Nov 2010
8. The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Psalm 23 Mysteries #1 Debbie Viguie Oct 2010
Dead Reckoning Ronie Kendig Sept 2010
9. Sheltering Hearts (Virgin River) Robyn Carr Sept 2010
10. Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice Book #1): A Novel Irene Hannon April 2012
Spying in High Heels (High Heels Mysteries #1) Gemma Halliday Sept 2011

Alternates:
11. Frozen Past (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 1) Richard C Hale July 2012
12. Extremes: A Retrieval Artist Novel by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Audible Oct 12

Book Review: Frozen Past (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 1) by Richard C Hale

This fast paced thriller has a good bit of killing with intense tension.
Frozen Past (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 1)
by Richard C Hale

• File Size: 1523 KB
• Print Length: 328 pages
• Publisher: Three Thirty A.M. Publishing (March 5, 2012)
• ASIN: B007HETCU6

Genre: Suspense Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Jaxon Jennings. Cop. Homicide detective. Partner. He always had your back and rarely made mistakes.
Until the death of his son. Until the night he couldn’t save him. Until everything he held dear was taken away from him.
Now, a shell of a man, his reckless actions mark him as a burn-out. A Loner. A dangerous man whom many in the Fairfax County Police Department cannot trust. The criminals he pursues in the suburbs of Washington D. C. are nothing more than ways to bide his time until his next drink, next fix, next loss of control. His past haunts him no matter how hard he tries to hide from it.
So, when a boy’s body shows up floating under the ice of a quiet neighborhood pool, Jaxon finds himself immersed in a world where the ghosts of his past feel too close for comfort. A psychopath is using the innocent in ways that appear familiar.
Jaxon’s past is catching up with him. And the anger that seethes below the surface threatens to destroy not only his life, but the lives of a group of kids somehow connected with him. The answers are locked, frozen in the part of his past he refuses to confront. But people are counting on him. And he must do anything to save them.
Anything. Even if it costs him his life.

Review:
The story starts with a child disappearing; then another. The story continues to tell the sometimes gruesome tale of a broken cop and a serial killer who goes after children and teens. Jaxon is the cop who lost his own son to a killer years ago. When a boy’s body shows up floating in a pool Jaxon begins a chase with a criminal who seems to be always one step ahead.

Luke and Ellie have been best friends since third grade. Now they are in ninth grade and their relationship is warming up. Luke hear’s a strange voice as a group plays outside. Ellie’s dog disappears until Luke stumbles upon it during a snowball fight. The pair then get creepy facebook messages from a stranger. The kids pull a prank that turns into something horrible and soon the police are regular visitors.

Jaxon is intent on stopping the killer each death crushes his spirit more. As more dead bodies are found, including beheaded animals, the FBI is called in for some input. Soon Jaxon’s ex-wife, an FBI agent is working the case with him. Things might improve between them if Jaxon doesn’t fall into a greater depression over the death of more children.

Ellie and Luke need protection when it becomes clear the killer is targeting them. Can Jaxon and the authorities, or even Luke and his teen friends, stop the killer before he gets to Ellie?

The mystery and suspense is well done even though I found the murders disturbing. The young romance is an interesting and warm element to set off a bit of the gruesomeness. The story is fast paced with writing that is easy to read. However, I wouldn't recommend this for young readers. I do recommend it to readers who like a good thriller and aren’t squeamish about serial killing.

This title was from my Kindle library, free in July, 2012. It is the final book for my 2015 TBR Pile Challenge. It is still available as a free read.

Book Review: Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice Book #1): A Novel by Irene Hannon

I really liked this great suspense and romance.

Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice Book #1): A Novel

by Irene Hannon

• File Size: 1443 KB
• Print Length: 338 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800734564
• Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2011)
• ASIN: B004DNWG2U

Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward the coldhearted workaholic haven't warmed in the five years since she drove her husband--and Jake's best friend--to despair . . . and possible suicide.

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, he's forced to revise his opinion of her. And when it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in danger.

Full of suspense and romance, Fatal Judgment launches a thrilling series featuring three siblings bound by blood and a passion for justice.

Review:
U.S. Marshall Jake Taylor has spent many years in law enforcement and is used to facing enemies to protect those he is assigned to. He is returning from assignment hoping to get some rest when he is called in to protect a federal judge. Not just any judge, but Liz Michaels, the widow of his best friend. Jake has some misconceptions that create an initial antagonism toward his charge. The longer he is around her the more he sees her actions seem to indicate that his views are wrong.

Liz lost her husband five years ago. Now her sister has been shot in the Judge’s home after seeking refuge from her sometimes violent husband. The spouse is always the first suspect but the investigation looks at others too. The authorities need Liz to back track through her files to locate someone who might be seeking revenge. When the killer slips through the protective detail to get to Liz, Jake realizes he has more to lose than just a charge.

This story has good romantic tension and suspense. I really liked Jake and Liz as the primary characters and Jake’s brother and sister add to the characters. The action is steady and I appreciated the faith based discussion between the characters. The romance develops with good chemical and emotional attraction that is fine without sexual scenes.

I have been eyeing this author and am glad I finally read one of her books. I will be glad to pick up more of her romantic suspense titles when given the opportunity. I recommend this book and author to those who enjoy strong characters and clean romance.

This is from my TBR shelf - 2012. It is the next to the last title for my 2015 TBR Pile Challenge.

2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge Completed Successfully

2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge -- COMPLETION POST

Hosted by Escape with Dollycas Into A Good Book

[Check rules and sign up HERE and look for info to sign up for 2016 Challenge.]

It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to read one book that has a title starting with every letter of the alphabet.
You can drop the A’s and The’s from the book titles as shown below. For those pesky Q, X AND Z titles the word with the challenge letter can be anywhere in the title.


 COMPLETION NOTES: I worked hard to actually find titles with the right beginning letters so I didn't have to drop the A's and The's this year. That may not work for 2016. I do plan to do this again as it was fun and helped me pull a dozen titles from my TBR shelves.

A      Accept This Dandelion by Brooke Williams
B      Betrayal in Death In Death, Book 12 by J. D. Robb (Audible TBR)
C      Cleansed by Fire by James R. Callan
D      Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (Audible TBR)
E      Exodus 2022 by Kenneth G. Bennett
F      Finding Mr. Right by Emily Carmichael (Audible TBR)
G      Gabriel: Zero Point by Steve Umstead (Audible TBR)
H      Hawk by Ronie Keding
I       Immortality by Kevin Bohacz
J       Just In Time For a Highlander by Gwen Cready
K      Kiss of Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel (The Midnight Breed Series Book 1) by Lara Adrian (TBR)
L     Legendarium by Kevin G. Summers, Michael Bunker (Audible TBR)
M    Monday's Lie by Jamie Mason
N     Nirvana (Nirvana Series Book 1) by J.R. Stewart
O     Only Enchanting  by Mary Balogh
P      Passionately Yours by Cara Elliott
Q     Quitter by Jon Acuff (Audio TBR)
R      Resurrecting Home by A. American
S      Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Mahaney Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw (TBR)
T     Time and Again: Book 1 in the History Mystery Series by Deborah Heal
U    Unclutter Your Life! How to Tame Your Mess, Calm Your Mind, Lighten your Load by Jen Williams (TBR)
V    Virgin River by Robin Carr (Audible TBR)
W   What a Devilish Duke Desires by Vicky Dreiling
X     Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger by Lee Stephen
Y   You're Never to Old to Laugh by Ed Fischer (TBR)
Z    Zion's Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption by Imani Wisdom (TBR)